Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 246-263)
2c Pink, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (248a). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh, bright color, small and faint corner crease at bottom rightFINE. A VERY IMPORTANT 1894 BUREAU ISSUE RARITY.
Reportedly there are only eight pairs and one block of four in all conditions. We can not recall ever seeing any on the auction market . The last time we offered a pair was in our 1965 Rarity Sale some 44 years ago (we will offer examples in our forthcoming "Whitpain" sale). With 1980 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, almost perfectly centered amid wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2002 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,650.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only one other example shares this grade
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Slightly disturbed original gum, brilliant color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 103 selvage, rich color on bright white paper, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1996 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $890.00)
5c Chocolate, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (255c). Original gum, deep rich color, natural gum bend and couple short perfs at left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine-Very Fine appearing example of this error which is believed to originate from a part sheet purchased by a collector at the Richmond Va. post office, with 1995 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H. with bottom part imprint selvage, fresh and bright, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, a very difficult stamp to find in such choice condition, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00)
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
6c Dull Brown, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (256a). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, couple of minor thin spots, unusually well-centered for this as most come with the perforations touching the design. Very Fine appearance, rare Bureau perforation error, with 1992 P.F. certificate
8c Violet Brown (257). Mint N.H., detailed impression, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green, Imperforate Between Selvage and Stamp (258 var). Left margin single with huge sheet margin, redistributed original gum, rich color, few thin spots, otherwise Fine, very unusual item and unlisted in Scott, with 2001 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (259). Original gum, deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1989 P.S.E. certificate
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H., uncharacteristically choice centering, vivid bright colorEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 50-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,400.00)
50c Orange (260). Original gum, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $900.00)
50c Orange (260). Original gum, lightly hinged, vivid color, fresh white paper, Extremely Fine
50c Orange (260). Original gum, vibrant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1994 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, small h.r., detailed impression, well-proportioned margins, light soiling on top perfs and reperfed at right (neither mentioned on certificate), Extremely Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Slightly disturbed original gum, well-centered with intense color on bright paper, tiny thin speck (not mentioned on certificate), Extremely Fine appearance, with 1995 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, attractively centered, thin spot, Fine appearance
$1.00 Black (261). Exceptionally wide margins and nearly perfectly centered, beautiful impression on bright white paper, unobtrusive cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A WONDERFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE I UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00). This is the only example to achieve this grade and only two have graded higher
$1.00 Black, Types I-II-II (261-261A-261A). Bottom sheet margin strip of three with imprint and plate no. 76, left stamp Type I and right pair Type II, original gum, h.r. where few perfs sensibly reinforced, bright shadeFINE AND RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE $1.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU TYPES I AND II.
The $1.00 1894-95 plate -- comprising 200 subjects arranged in two panes of 100 -- included five vertical columns of Type II (50 subjects). The left half of one pane was made up of Type I stamps, and the right half of the same pane comprised Type II stamps. The other pane was entirely Type I. Therefore, where the imprint and plate number appears at top and bottom, the two stamps at right are Type II, and the one stamp at left is Type I. Combination pairs and strips, which exist only between fifth and sixth columns, are extremely rare and desirable. Plate number strips and blocks are of even greater rarity, and only a small number of the 1894 unwatermarked issue exist.
Last offered in our 1967 Rarities sale where acquired by the current owner. With 1965 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense impression on crisp paper, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,650.00). This issue is difficult to obtain in the higher grades -- only three in any category have graded higher to date.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, h.r., deep shade and detailed impression, wide margins, two unpunched perfs, light natural gum bend at bottom right, small thin spot, appears Extremely Fine
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, mount translucency and minor thin spot, Fine appearance
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Unused (regummed), tiny thin spot, Fine appearance
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, lightly hinged, gorgeous rich color on bright white paper, remarkably well-centered with enormous margins all around, most recent certificate notes faint corner crease at upper left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2000 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates, the former as sound
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful deep color on bright paper, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, natural gum creases, light corner thin and couple perf flaws, otherwise Fine
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Disturbed original gum, intense color, light ink marks and gum toning on back, added perf bottom left, Fine appearance
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Unused (regummed), bright shade, reperfed, Very Fine appearance
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Wide, perfectly balanced margins, almost face-free cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN THIS CHOICE USED CONDITION.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). While a P.F. graded stamp, as an indication of rarity the P.S.E. Population Report records only three examples graded 95 with none higher
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, rich color and detailed impression on crisp paper with clear stitch watermarkFRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
This stamp has far more visual appeal than our conservative grade would indicate.